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DHS Launches Voluntary Program for Critical Infrastructure Data Submission

The private sector can voluntarily submit critical infrastructure information to the Homeland Security Department with a new program designed to protect such information. Starting Feb. 20, the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) program will collect sensitive data about physical and cyber infrastructure according to regulations that will be posted online Feb. 19 and published in the Federal Register the following day. Public comment on the regulations could last up to 90 days. . . .. The private sector can voluntarily submit critical infrastructure information to the Homeland Security Department with a new program designed to protect such information. Starting Feb. 20, the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) program will collect sensitive data about physical and cyber infrastructure according to regulations that will be posted online Feb. 19 and published in the Federal Register the following day. Public comment on the regulations could last up to 90 days. Robert Liscouski, DHS' assistant secretary for infrastructure protection, said by partnering with the private sector and making the program voluntary, the federal government can find vulnerabilities and nuances that the private sector knows best. "The partnership's important to us because the government can't afford to buy the expertise that we need to understand those vulnerabilities at the nuance level if they have access to it," he said. Fred Herr, PCII's program manager, said the private sector isn't required to submit anything to the federal government under the program. But DHS officials cited the public good as a reason why companies and nongovernment organizations might share such information voluntarily. The information will be kept confidential, because any data that passes all program requirements will be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act and cannot be accessed by third parties or state and local governments for civil litigation, officials said. However, if companies provided false statements or submittedinformation they knew to be wrong, they would be subject to federal felony statutes. The link for this article located at fcw.com is no longer available. . The initiative for private entities to willingly share vital infrastructure details aims to bolster security measures and safeguard confidential information.. critical infrastructure,data submission,information protection. . Anthony Pell

Feb 19, 2004 • Anthony Pell Government